Need to pee urgently? Pay Rs 5 to use toilets in South Delhi's restaurants and hotels from April

People would be able to use this facility by paying just Rs 5

In a positive move, washrooms in restaurants, hotels and other eateries will be turned into public toilets in South Delhi if you are willing to shell out Rs 5, reported The Times of India. 

The local civic body initiative will allow people access to 3,500 to 4,000 more toilets from April 1.
 

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said it would enforce the rule by adding a provision to this effect in the health trade licences issued to these establishments. "The licence has a condition that the corporation can modify it anytime. The move will be particularly beneficial for women who face problems due to lack of toilets in marketplaces," SDMC commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel told Times of India.

The localities of Saket, Hauz Khas Village and Shahpur Jat fall under the SDMC’s ambit.

The move was discussed in a meeting between the lieutenant governor and civic body officials last week. The order applies to all hotels and restaurants, especially those seeking health trade licences from the municipal corporation.

However, restaurant managements said it was wrong to force such a  decision on them as it violates their basic right of keeping the admission reserved. This move comes in the wake of the advice made by L-G Anil Baijal, who asked the SDMC to explore the possibility of opening up toilets in restaurants and hotels to the general public. 

"I appreciate the intent behind the move. Even now, people don't have to buy food to use our toilets. But forcing it on private enterprises is wrong. We will look at the details to see whether our fundamental rights of admission and security are being violated," Amlani said. The south Delhi corporation has issued 4,586 health trade licenses to establishments which include hotels and restaurants. "Many of these places are small and do not have toilets. But more than 4,000 of them have toilets which will be opened for public use without any burden on tax-payers," Goel said. Under the new rules, establishments may provide the facility for free. But they wouldn't be allowed to charge more than Rs 5 from each user.